This past Friday, October 18th, marks the formal transfer of the Territory of Alaska from Russia to the United States, which took place in 1867. While I honor and respect this place as home to indigenous peoples long before that transfer, it was an important step in creating the Alaska that I am lucky enough to call home today!
To celebrate, here are some quick snapshots of why I love living in this wild, beautiful place and some of the unique adventures I’ve enjoyed since moving here. 18 for the 18th, to be exact:
1. Mountaintop concerts
2. Glaciers
3. Opportunities to get active
Since moving to Alaska, I’ve had so many opportunities to try new things and keep myself moving. Cross country skiing (of both the classic and skate variety), rock climbing, pub runs, indoor soccer, 12ks, church-league softball, snowshoeing, ice skating on hot-mopped lakes, you name it and someone will be up to join you for it.
4. National Parks galore
Just go visit them for yourself, trust me! (and great company is always a bonus!)
5. …and State Parks, too!
Just look at it….what more is there to say?
6. Rural Alaska
This picture was taken in Sand Point, out in the Aleutians. I attended a culture camp there during the summer of 2015 and getting out of my home-base of Anchorage has been an annual goal for me since moving here. Sand Point, Nome, Kodiak, Sitka, Port Alsworth- but there are so many more dots on the map I’ve yet to get to and can’t wait to explore.
7. Diversity
The Native Heritage Center is a great place to start if you know nothing about the diversity of Alaska, but beyond the indigenous peoples there’s an incredible amount of diversity in Anchorage. There are over 100 languages spoken in our school district and for someone like me who loves to travel, being surrounded by that diversity is amazing.
8. Tiny planes
I fell in love with float planes when I found my first apartment on Lake Hood. I loved nothing more than sitting at my kitchen table, watching the planes land with a cup of coffee in my hand. Tiny planes are the way to get anywhere in Alaska it seems, and let’s not forget helicopters. Ever the adventure getting around this crazy state!
9. All of the hiking
Whether it’s a quick jaunt after work or an all-day venture, hiking in Alaska is one
of my favorite ways to unwind.
10. Musk ox! (and moose, and bears, and puffins…)
Critters are everywhere in Alaska, and while they may require some extra attention to your surroundings (for both your safety and theirs) there’s nothing quite like witnessing these creatures in their natural habitat (or at the Musk Ox farm for Oxtoberfest…).
11. Yurts
Yurts are just cool. They’re great fun if you’re wanting to be out in the wilderness without the responsibility of packing camping gear. I’m hoping to start making better use of the million public-use cabins scattered across the state as well! Alaska really does such a good job of making itself accessible in moderation without over-developing areas. I can only hope it stays that way.
12. Family adventures
My aunt, uncle, and cousins came up over the summer and after a rendezvous in Seattle they came up to check out a couple of places in Alaska. During our time in Talkeetna, we took a K2 tour of Denali that was absolutely amazing, complete with glacier landing. I love having family and friends visit- it gives me an added incentive to play tourist in my own state.
13. My furbaby
Penelope is a rescue from a little village out near Bethel called Tuntutuliak. The village is home to a whopping 408 residents and one of the many sites around rural Alaska where rescues pick up strays. Penelope is the love of my life and I’m so glad living in Alaska brought us together.
14. Backpacking
I had never backpacked before moving to Alaska, but it has easily become one of my favorite things to explore further. There are so many options to choose from and such
15. Amazing food…and beer!
16. Direct flights to Hawaii
Hawaii and Alaska have a relationship I never would have expected. As the last two states to join the union and consequently states that exist in relative isolation from the rest of the country, they have quite the connection. Many people travel between Alaska and Hawaii regularly, and I’ve enjoyed my last three Thanksgivings in the islands. Nothing like a little last minute sunshine before a long, dark winter.
17. Amazing people
Anchorage can be a tricky place to create community with the amount of transience people have in their lives. Military, jobs, school, family, marriage, all sorts of life’s curve balls keep people moving around. That being said, the sense of community here is amazing, and I’m so glad for the people who have crossed my path, even if life has consequently pulled them in a different direction.
18. Dancing on mountaintops!
